The meaning of Nostalgia

“A sentimental longing or wistful affection for a period in the past.”

I love this word. And it’s meaning. And at this particular point in time in my life I treasure it with all my heart. See just a few months ago I was suffering from a very severe viral infection in my brain. The extreme fevers I had left me with a small percentage of brain damage. And yes, it is affecting my memory.

Luckily the damage is not permanent and it all should come back to me. And actually it did start last night. I was sitting on the couch going through some very old photos. At first glance many faces were strangers to me, but the more time I spent with these moments of yesteryear, the more there was that I started to remember.

I saw the good times, big smiles at weddings of my cousins and friends. I saw the sadness and tears where we said goodbye to a loved one at a funeral. I also saw and was reminded of the good I did when I was still at school. A warrior changing the world one act of kindness at a time.

And there it filled my heart and mind. I was blessed with the warmth overflow and glow of being nostalgic. I will lie if I say that I was not shedding a tear now and again. Looking at photos of my late grandmother and my late father immediately recalled the many happy Christmas times spent together as a happy family. Many cakes at many birthday parties show a colorful kaleidoscope of fun and joy. And let’s not forget the proud evening when I was sworn in as junior mayor.

School years are forever captured too and when I looked at some of the fashion statements from back then I couldn’t help but think oh my word, really?

Yes, looking at all these old photos made me all nostalgic and made me wish those who are gone were still here. It also made me wishes to go back in time and fix mistakes I made.

But then I realized I am in the here now. I know those loved ones who passed are waiting and one day we will be reunited again. I realized I cannot go back to fix mistakes and I probably made them to make me a stronger and better person. And with a heart filled with gratitude I realized my memory is coming back and yes, I will be ok and happy. Just as happy as I was in the photos staring back at me.

Yes, nothing like a dose of nostalgia to bring happiness and inner peace.

Author: Philip J Nel

Short bio: The author contributes articles to websites as a guest writer and specializes in the following topics: life’s trials and tribunals, people and their stories, animals, nature and religion. He is also a proud cancer survivor who has learnt many hard life lessons through the years. The author started writing at the age of 14 and has written several poems, short stories and a novel.

Dream about your goals

We often think that dreams and goals are two very different things. We regard dreams as ethereal things you see far ahead in your future, while goals is something you can put down on paper right now as one of your New Year’s resolutions. But, in order for you to reach your dream, you have to plot a path for you to take to get to it. You can, for instance, dream about being a professional sport star, but you won’t attain that dream if you never play a sport or practice.

Each step you take on your path to reach your dream can be regarded as a different goal. To figure out what your goals should be, you first need to make sure that you have a clear view of your dream. “Being successful” is only a vague dream, but “having x job and being able to take care of myself and my family” is not. Once you can see your dream clearly, you can start to plot your goals. Each goal should build on one another and move you closer to your dream.

For instance, if you want to get job x, you need to get the correct education and training to be able to do the job professionally. Your first step would be to find out what education you will need and then to enrol as a student at the applicable institution. Once you have completed your training, you have the option of working as an intern in your chosen field and getting mentored by those who have already attained the dream you want to.

If you do set goals for yourself and work to attain them – all the while keeping your dream in mind – you will find that your dream becomes clearer as the time passes and you get closer to attaining it. The fulfilment of working towards a set of goals – and a dream – is so much more valuable than simply wanting your dream to come true; as if some fairy godmother should just make it so. If your dream is truly important to you, you will find that it is not some passing fancy, but something you are willing to give the necessary time and energy to. And when you are truly following your passion, you should not feel cheated at the amount of time it takes for you to fulfil your dream. Just remember to start with small steps, as they build on each other and will give you the foundation you need to grab your dream with both hands.

This article originally posted on http://generalcarinsurancequotes.com/ and re-posted here with permission.

Author: Carin Marais

Carin Marais writes web articles, guest and blog posts, and fiction. With interests ranging from pop culture and technology to literature, mythology and archaeology, her writing covers diverse subjects. To contact Carin for articles and guest posts, or to read her work, go to her home page, her blog Hersenskim or follow her on @CarinMarais.

Confronting the Crossroads in Life

How many times did it happen to you? How many times were you confronted with crossroads in your life and you just didn’t know which way to go? Do you go back? Turn left or right? Or do you take the bull by the horns and go on forward?

Last week, I once again was faced with a crossroad in my life. And it is, well was, not an easy nor pleasant one. Not at all. See, after spending most of a morning between a specialist and X rays and a mammogram – yes, guys can also have those done; the following words rocked my world. “I am sorry, but it seems that you do have stage four cancer in your breast and it goes as far down as under your right arm.”

So, even though I have been suspecting it, having a history of cancer, I did fight it off and was in remission for 7 years, and cancer in my family, it still did come as a shock. And yes, even though I have been walking with this suspicion for several months now as well as the sores and the lumps, nobody thought of having tests done for cancer. Why not? Well, it is in my breast and men don’t get breast cancer. Newsflash, it might not be a common cancer for men, but we can get it.

It took me a while, actually a couple of days, to come to terms with the news. And also with the recommended and intended treatment which lies ahead of me. And in this time that I took out to process everything, I just couldn’t help but seeing my crossroad right in front of me.

There is neither use nor need for me neither to look back nor to go back. Why would I do that? Just to be asking questions which cannot be answered? Do I look for easy escapes left or right by forgetting what the reality is and secretly hoping that it all will go away? That I will wake up and it all is just a bad dream? No, none of the above is options.

Why not?

Because I am a fighter. I am a survivor. I am looking forward and taking this cancer by the horns and I will see it through. It will not win. I am the winner here. I am actually looking at ways to make other men more aware out there. By helping others out, there I will also help myself in my own fight against the cancer. Yes, the road for me which I have decided to take at this crossroad will not be easy. I know that. And I know the days will come when I am going to feel like giving up, but I have so much to live for. I will see my 40th birthday in 2017. I will see my garden flourish for many summers to come. And I will see others in my position also fighting this, not alone, because I will be by their sides.

I will keep you up to date in my fight. I am neither ashamed nor afraid of the cancer anymore. What I do know is that inner strength, especially that of a person’s mind and faith is the strongest medicine and best cure for any ailment. Whether it is a common cold, the flu or even cancer.

Wow, see, therapy started. By putting these words to paper, well in writing, already made me feel stronger and more positive. I will not give up. I will fight this. And I will win. And I am determined to make a difference in the life, or lives, of other guys out there.

CANCER CAN BE BEATEN. Some people just need to fight a little bit harder than others.

Bring it on, my mind is right and my faith is strong. What more do I need?

Stay strong, stay healthy and stay warm!

Going the way of decent Insurance cover for all your valuables is your only option.

This article originally posted on http://cheap-short-term-car-insurance.com/ and re-posted here with permission.

Author: Philip J Nel

The author contributes articles to websites as a guest writer and specializes in the following topics: life’s trials and tribunals, people and their stories, animals, nature and religion. He is also a proud cancer survivor and that has also taught him more about life. The author started writing at the age of 16 and has written several poems, short stories and even a novel.